“Divorce isn’t a weapon; it’s a tool of transformation."
In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, Deanna Coyle, Co-Founder of Vesta: A New Vision for Divorce and Concierge Director, sits down with Karen McNenny—mediator, divorce coach, therapist, TEDx speaker, and host of The Good Divorce Show—to reframe divorce as a tool for transformation, not a weapon. Drawing on 25+ years in human behavior and her own peaceful co-parenting journey, Karen shares practical ways to “divorce by design”: compost old hurts into growth, keep kids out of the middle, and replace ego battles with the mantra, “You can be right or you can make it right.”
Together, they explore how to end your marriage without ending your family, turning what can feel like a painful ending into a healthy new beginning. Karen also discusses post-divorce dating (hello, “D-Orgasmic Era”), the case for workplace support during divorce, and simple habits—like shared family threads—that stitch two homes into one family story.
As part of Vesta’s mission to educate and empower, Deanna highlights how working with a Divorce Concierge can help you find the right legal, financial, and emotional experts to guide your journey. Whether you’re seeking divorce support, mediation, or coaching near you, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and hope for what’s next. Plus, don’t miss the sneak peek of Karen’s upcoming Wiley book, The Good Divorce: How to End Your Marriage Without Ending Your Family (coming May 2026).
-
00:00 Welcome & why “good divorce” is possible
-
04:00 Pantry → compost: a new grief framework
-
10:30 Divorce by design vs. default (and lawyers’ incentives)
-
18:45 Co-parenting ground rules: kids as the true client
-
28:00 Dating & the “D-orgasmic era” (boundaries + timelines)
-
36:30 Work, FMLA, and supporting employees in divorce
-
44:00 Scripts: “Be right vs. make it right”
-
50:00 Practical tools: family text threads, shared celebrations
-
56:00 Karen’s Wiley book + where to find her
-
59:00 Closing mantra: “If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
Connect with Karen
-
Connect with Karen McNenny: https://www.karenmcnenny.com/
- Listen to the Good Divorce Podcast: https://www.karenmcnenny.com/good-divorce-show/
Connect with Vesta:
Email concierge: concierge@vestadivorce.com
Past episodes mentioned:
- Shame & Divorce: https://bit.ly/Apple-Blame-and-Shame
- Re-Entering the Workforce: https://bit.ly/Apple-Career-Options
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.